[ English ]

Much has been stated in the papers not long ago concerning the bingo industry singing the blues as a result of the anti smoking law in the United Kingdom. Conditions have grown so awful that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for huge aid to help keep the industry from going bankrupt. But can the net variation of this quintessential game present a reprieve, or might it not compare to its real life opposite?

Bingo is an ancient game historically played by the "blue rinse" generation. In any case the game of late had undergone a recent increase in acceptance with younger members of society opting to go to the bingo parlours rather than the discos on a Friday night. This is all about to be reversed with the enacting of the anti smoking law all over UK.

No more will gamblers be able to puff on cigarettes at the same time dabbing numbers. Beginning in the summer of 2007 every public area will not be allowed to permit cigarettes in their buildings and this includes Bingo halls, one of the most common locations where folks like to puff on cigarettes.

The results of the smoking ban can already be seen in Scotland where cigarettes are already forbidden in the bingo halls. Profits have dropped and the business is absolutely fighting for its life. But where have all the players gone? Certainly they have not forgotten this established game?

The answer is on the net. People realise that they can participate in bingo from their computer while enjoying a beer and fag and in the end, have a chance at massive cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has timed itself just about perfectly with the ban on smoking.

Of course betting on online will never replace the social aspect of going down to the bingo parlor, but for a group of people the governing edicts have left a good many bingo players with little option.